Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Heart Institute: Leading the Way in Complex Cardiac Care
For children with congenital heart defects, the Nicklaus Children’s Heart Institute is South Florida’s leader in both options and outcomes for complex heart procedures.
The diagnosis of a congenital heart defect in a newborn or unborn child is unquestionably alarming news for parents and parents-to-be. They may wonder if their child is going to be okay, and what their life will be like living with the condition.
Parents today can take heart in the knowledge that more congenital heart defects are now treatable, and the associated outcomes are now better than ever before. This is especially true at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital’s Heart Institute, a national and international referral center for children with complex heart conditions. The Heart Institute offers a vast array of services and is consistently recognized by U.S. News and World Report as one of the best hospitals in the nation for pediatric cardiology and cardiovascular surgery.
What to Expect
Though frightening for parents, congenital heart defects are more common than most people realize. These disorders occur in approximately eight out of every 1,000 newborns, with two to three of those eight cases requiring medical intervention. That’s why it’s best for parents to be prepared and know the risks in advance.
Luckily, that process now often begins during the prenatal stages. If your child is at risk, or a possible abnormality is detected during a fetal ultrasound, then your doctor may recommend a fetal echocardiogram. This non-invasive test enables our pediatric cardiology specialists to take a closer look at the unborn baby’s heart through the mother’s abdomen to make an early diagnosis and plan of care after birth. The procedure is performed by a sonographer with advanced training using state-of-the-art ultrasound technology.
When a Defect Is Discovered
In situations where a defect is discovered, Nicklaus Children’s Heart Institute offers several advantages. For one, the range of conditions treated and procedures available is more comprehensive than other regional providers. Some serious prenatal heart complications can even be treated before the baby is born. This can be done in the event of serious heart defects, where intervention can save the baby’s life or significantly reduce complications when the baby is born or as they grow.
Joseph M. Forbess, M.D. Chief of Cardiovascular Surgery at Nicklaus Children’s Heart Institute, says that how care is structured at the institute also puts the needs of patients at the forefront. “We use what we call an ‘acuity adaptable model’ in our intensive care unit,” explains Dr. Forbess. “What this means for our patients and their families is that they are in a single comfortable space, and the care team adjusts to them rather than the patient being moved around the hospital. This makes the care of children a lot less stressful for them and, by default, better. This approach, of course, requires communication among multiple care teams, which our institute excels at.”
Excellence Across the Board
Dr. Forbess likens the care for children with congenital heart defects to a symphony orchestra. “Caring for a child with a complex heart disease requires skills in a variety of different verticals — cardiac surgeons, cardiologists, imaging specialists, ICU personnel, nurses, nurse practitioners and more,” he says. These pediatric specialists work together, communicating in symphony to deliver unified care for the child and family.
Another advantage is that Nicklaus Children’s offers appointments with pediatric cardiologists in office locations across the region including Miami, Miami Beach, Coral Springs, Boynton Beach, Weston, Wellington, West Kendall, Palm Beach Gardens and Palm City. While complex medical procedures are performed at the centrally located hospital in Miami, Dr. Forbess notes that diagnosis, follow-up appointments, and many other diagnostic services can be conveniently scheduled at a location close to home. Some locations offer same-day and evening appointments, for greater flexibility in scheduling.
An Emphasis on Outcomes
The other factor that patients and parents can depend on with the Nicklaus Children’s Heart Institute is excellent outcomes. The institute has a long-standing commitment to reporting transparency in their clinical outcomes, and they’ve been publishing those results on the internet since 2001. The Nicklaus Children’s Heart Institute has maintained a 97 percent survival rate for its cardiac surgery program from 2019 through 2023, which is in line with the national survival average. The national average is 85 percent.
Moving forward, Dr. Forbess says the focus on outcomes is not just mortality, but effectiveness indicators such as quality of life. He notes that the Heart Institute is at the forefront of contributing to what these outcome reporting indicators should be, and then helping their team continue to meet and exceed those benchmarks.
Focused on Patients
From its highly skilled staff to its adaptable model, treatment versatility and focus on excellent outcomes, there are many reasons why Nicklaus Children’s Heart Institute is a destination hospital not only for regional heart patients but national and international ones, as well. Not only can families expect the best care available for their child with a congenital heart defect, but also a comprehensive plan to help them prepare for what’s to come and how to care for their child in the months and years ahead. Dr. Forbess says parents can rest assured that the institute sets families up for the best outcomes possible in a variety of different heart health scenarios.